Honestly, if you’re still waiting for a "Kirby Air Ride 2" announcement, you’ve basically missed the biggest news of the decade. We aren't in the rumor phase anymore. It’s 2026. The game actually exists, it’s called Kirby Air Riders, and it has been the single most polarizing thing on the Nintendo Switch 2 since the console launched.
Some people are calling it a masterpiece. Others? They’re still mourning the fact that Masahiro Sakurai—the legend himself—has already announced he’s moving on.
The Kirby Air Ride Switch 2 Reality Check
Let’s clear the air because there’s a lot of weird misinformation floating around. For years, we begged for a GameCube remaster. We wanted those simple, one-button controls back. When Nintendo finally pulled the curtain back in April 2025, they didn't just give us a port. They dropped a full-blown sequel developed by Sora Ltd. and Bandai Namco.
Yeah, the same team that did Smash Ultimate.
It’s called Kirby Air Riders, and it hit the Switch 2 on November 20, 2025. If you haven't picked it up yet, you’re missing out on the wildest 16-player online chaos Nintendo has ever attempted. But here’s the kicker: the development team is already disbanding. Sakurai posted about it on social media just a few weeks ago in December. He basically said, "Here’s your game, it’s balanced, I’m out." No DLC. No "Wave 1" expansion passes. It’s a "what you see is what you get" situation, which feels almost alien in 2026.
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Why "City Trial" is Still the Only Mode That Matters
You remember the original City Trial, right? That big, open map where you spent seven minutes hoarding patches and hoping nobody stole your Hydra? Well, the Switch 2 version takes that and cranks it up to eleven. The new main map is called Skyah.
It is massive.
Instead of just four players, you’ve got 16 people screaming across a floating island. It’s basically a "lite" battle royale on stars. There are new "Field Events" that pop up—like boss fights with a giant Robo Dedede—and if you’re playing in the new Team Battle mode, you can actually share legendary machine parts with your friends.
The "Mario Kart" Problem
People keep asking: "Is this just Mario Kart with Kirby?"
Sakurai actually addressed this in his second Direct. He straight up admitted that on paper, it looks like a kart racer. You’ve got characters on vehicles. You’ve got tracks. But the feel is totally different. There’s a new mechanic called Swap Relay. You don't just pick one machine and stay on it. You can actually select different machines for each individual lap.
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Imagine starting on a Warp Star for speed, then swapping to a heavy-duty Rex King for the final lap to bully everyone off the track. It’s tactical in a way Mario Kart World just isn't.
The Secret Roster (And the amiibo Situation)
The character list in Kirby Air Riders is a weird mix of Sakurai's old-school favorites and some actual modern nods. You’ve got:
- Kirby (Duh)
- Meta Knight
- King Dedede
- Bandana Waddle Dee
- Magolor (Finally!)
- Taranza
Nintendo is also leaning hard into those "Big" amiibo. There are these two-part figures coming in March 2026—Meta Knight on the Shadow Star, for example—where the rider is magnetically attached. You can swap the physical figures onto different machines, and the game registers the new combo instantly. It’s a neat trick, though your wallet probably won't love the price tag.
Is It Worth It?
If you’re looking for a "forever game" with ten years of updates, this isn't it. Sakurai was very clear: "Everything is here." He threw every idea he had into the launch version.
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The game currently sits at the #9 spot on the Switch 2 eShop charts as of January 18, 2026. It’s being outpaced by Animal Crossing and the Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade port, but it has a dedicated cult following. The online ranking system uses seven colors of the rainbow instead of boring letter grades, which is a very "Kirby" way of doing things.
Actionable Steps for New Riders
If you just picked up a Switch 2 and you're diving into Kirby Air Riders, do these three things immediately:
- Update to Version 1.2.0: This is likely one of the final balance patches. They nerfed Rick (his HP was way too high in City Trial) and adjusted the handling on almost every machine.
- Master the Boost Charge: Unlike the GameCube version, you can now tilt the left stick while holding the B button to perform "Drift Maneuvers." It’s the only way to stay competitive in the high-tier Nebula Belt races.
- Check the "Road Trip" Mode: This is the new story-driven campaign. It’s the fastest way to unlock the returning nine classic courses from the 2003 original.
Don't wait for a "Deluxe" version or a DLC expansion. This is the finished product, and in an era of endless live-service updates, there's something kind of refreshing about a game that just... finishes. Go get your Dragoon parts and get to Skyah.